IT for retail,
online and off.
Running a retail business today means managing a physical store, an online presence, and the technology that connects them, all at the same time. North Star supports retailers across BC and Alberta with managed IT that covers POS systems, Shopify builds and support, PCI-compliant network segmentation, and the inventory and omnichannel tools that keep your product moving. Whether you have one location in Prince George or six shops across the province, we keep your systems running so your staff can focus on the floor.
The IT problems this sector runs into.
These come up in almost every conversation we have with retail and e-commerce operators. They're solvable.
POS outages cost sales, not just time.
A Square terminal that won't connect at noon on Saturday is not an IT problem you can put a ticket on. Retail IT needs fast resolution windows, proactive monitoring, and hardware on hand before the issue hits the floor.
PCI DSS compliance is not optional.
If you take card payments, you are in scope for PCI DSS. Network segmentation, firewall rules, and patch currency all matter. Most small retailers assume their payment provider handles it. They don't, not completely.
Inventory sync between channels breaks constantly.
Shopify, Square, and your back-room spreadsheet rarely agree. When a customer orders online and the product is already sold in-store, you lose money and credibility. Proper integration setup prevents most of these breaks.
Retail is a high-value ransomware target.
Customer data, payment records, and supplier contacts make retail a target. Most small retailers have no endpoint protection beyond Windows Defender, and their backup is a drive on the counter. That's not a plan.
What North Star delivers for retail and e-commerce.
Practical IT services built around how retail and e-commerce operations actually work.
Shopify builds and ongoing support.
We build, migrate, and maintain Shopify stores, including theme customisation, app selection, payment gateway configuration, and PCI-safe checkout setup. Ongoing support so you're not Googling fixes at 10 PM.
E-commerce →POS setup and network segmentation.
Shopify POS, Square, and Lightspeed setups with proper network segmentation: card readers on their own VLAN, PCI scope clearly defined, and firewall rules that keep cardholder data isolated from your guest Wi-Fi.
Managed Network →Cybersecurity for retail environments.
Endpoint protection, MFA on all back-office systems, and staff phishing training. We also handle the annual PCI self-assessment questionnaire process with you so renewals don't come as a surprise.
Cybersecurity →Flat-rate managed IT for retail locations.
Per-location or per-user pricing. Helpdesk, patching, hardware monitoring, and after-hours escalation. One number to call when something goes sideways on the busiest shopping day of the year.
Managed IT →Inventory and integration support.
We scope and configure integrations between your Shopify store, POS, and accounting tools. When the sync breaks, we fix it. When you're adding a new channel, we make sure the data flows correctly from day one.
Custom Software →Tools and platforms we use in this sector.
The technology stack we deploy and manage for retail and e-commerce clients.
Shopify and Shopify POS
Online and in-store retail platform, including theme builds, app integrations, and payment setup.
Lightspeed
Cloud-based POS for retailers with complex inventory and multi-location needs.
Square
POS hardware and software for smaller retail and pop-up environments.
Sophos / SentinelOne
Endpoint detection and response for back-office computers and POS workstations.
Veeam / Acronis
Backup and recovery for retail servers, inventory databases, and business records.
Common questions from retail and e-commerce operators.
Can you build a Shopify store from scratch?
Yes. We handle theme selection and customisation, product catalogue setup, payment gateway integration, and launch testing. We also set up the analytics and tracking you need to understand where your traffic comes from and what converts.
What does PCI compliance actually require for a small retailer?
For most small retailers using a hosted payment page, the scope is narrower than people expect, but it still requires network segmentation, a compliant firewall configuration, and annual completion of the appropriate Self-Assessment Questionnaire. We walk through this with you and implement any remediation the SAQ requires.
Do you support multi-location retail?
Yes. We have experience setting up consistent networking and POS environments across multiple store locations, including centralised helpdesk coverage, standardised hardware builds, and shared IT documentation that doesn't live only in someone's head.
How fast can you respond when our POS system goes down?
For managed clients, we target a 15-minute initial response for P1 issues (system down, no workaround). Retail downtime is revenue loss, and we treat it accordingly. We also do proactive monitoring so we often know about a problem before your staff does.
Can you help connect Shopify to our inventory or accounting software?
Yes. Common integrations we support include Shopify to QuickBooks Online, Shopify to Lightspeed, and custom webhook setups for inventory sync. We scope the integration, configure it, and document how it works so you're not dependent on us to maintain it forever.
Let's talk about your retail IT setup.
Book a 30-minute scoping call. We'll review your environment with your sector's compliance, connectivity, and uptime requirements in mind. No pressure.
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